The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Uganda 144/10 in 46.3 ( Mukasa 57, Kayondo 20, Irfan 15; Khan 3-28-9, Magsood 3-34-10, Ilyas 2-5-7.3)
Oman 145/4 in 27 (Singh 58, Ahmed 22, Lalcheta *19; Ifran 1-32-6, Nsubuga 1-43-9)
More questions were raised again about Uganda’s batting abilities, as they could only manage 144 runs in their second defeat at the ongoing World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in Kampala.
Oman duly capitalised for their second win, a comfortable six wicket victory at Kyambogo oval on a sunny Friday afternoon.
The only good news for the hosts is that in Entebbe, bottom placed Malaysia handed Canada, who were the only unbeaten side, a six wicket defeat. While Uganda could only manage 144 runs, Canada fared worse, managing only 141. (Canada 141 in 48.5 ov; Malaysia 143/4 in 38.0 ov)
Uganda must now beat USA and Malaysia by huge margins in their final two games, and hope two of the top three falter. Three of those top teams on the table have to play each other, reducing the chances of more than one getting 8 points. (The maximum Uganda can now get is 6 points)
Remaining fixtures
DAY 4
Uganda vs Malaysia
Canada vs USA
Singapore vs Oman
DAY 5
Malaysia vs Oman
Canada vs Singapore
Uganda vs USA
***
The pressure has finally got to Ugandan cricket fans. They are now openly questioning the team’s tactics going into the last two games.
“We seem to be getting the tactics wrong which plays against us,” an ardent fan told The Independent online, adding, “take today why did we bat first after winning a good toss?”
Malaysia has batted first in their first two games, both at Kyambogo. The managed only 121 in a defeat to Singapore, and 117 in another loss to USA, with both winners chasing with ease.
The luck of the toss aside, fans also thought the team tactics need to be flexible, depending on the situation. ” What was Jonathan Sebanja doing playing in the XI if he ain’t going to bowl? We had better batsmen than him on the bench!”
The fans recognized Uganda’s bowling as key, but said a big score at Lugogo is a must against Malaysia on Saturday.
“First the ground matters. We are playing in Lugogo so we expect to score runs….we don’t put on a good score we ain’t winning much as our bowling unit is the best at this tournament.”
Asked what they would change in the team, the answer came quick. ” If we win the toss we bat first…we saw what Canada did when they batted first there. I would also drop Arthur Kyobe, Lawrence Sematimba and Sebanja and play Arnold Otwani, Deusdedit Muhumuza and Brian Masaba.”
Over to you coach Steve Tikolo.
Points table
| Team | Pld | W | L | T | NR | Pts | NRR | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Canada |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.709 | Meet in the final and promoted to Division Two for 2018 |
 Oman |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.254 | |
 Singapore |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.059 | Meet in the 3rd playoff and remain in Division Three |
 United States |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.457 | |
 Malaysia |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | –0.616 | Meet in the 5th playoff and relegated to Division Four for 2018 |
 Uganda |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | –0.728 |
*******
Wednesday result: Uganda beats Singapore by 66 runs
Uganda 217/9 in 50 overs (Otwani 47, Ukani 46, Kayondo 41, Muhumuza 25*; Vijayakumar 2 for 39 in 10 )
Singapore – 151 ALL OUT in 44 overs (Kumarange 40, Mutreja 35; Mohammed Irfan 5 for 38 in 10, Frank Nsubuga 1 for 12 in 8 overs)
A man of the match performance with the ball by Uganda’s leading all-rounder Mohammed Irfan earned the hosts a crucial win that put their World Cricket League Division 3 title ambitions back on track.
For many moments in the Day 2 game on Wednesday at the Lake side oval in Entebbe, Singapore looked like they would deny Uganda, who were desperate after their opening day 66 run defeat by Canada. Singapore confidently batted to 132 for four after 35.5 overs, before the Ugandans unsettled them.
Irfan’s five wickets for 38 were complimented by miserly bowling by offspinning allrounder Frank Nsubuga (1 for 12 in 8 overs) as Uganda smothered the Singapore fight to snatch a 66 run win.
Uganda next take on Oman, Friday, in another match they cannot afford anything but a positive result to keep their dream of playing the final and qualifying to the WCL Division 2.
Uganda, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada and U.S.A are in Uganda battling to join Hong Kong, Namibia, Nepal, Kenya or Netherlands in Division 2.
ESPN best described what is at stake. “This time around, the competition feature six teams – Canada, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore Uganda and USA – who have been in the wilderness, hoping to return like prodigal sons back to Division One, where they once belonged.”
“On the previous two occasions that Uganda were relegated from Division Two, they bounced straight back with promotion from Division Three, at Bermuda in 2013 and Malaysia in 2014. After suffering relegation two years ago in Namibia, they are hoping to go right back up again.”
WCL Div 3 Table standings as at May 25, 2017
| Team | Pld | W | L | T | NR | Pts | NRR | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +1.620 | Meet in the final and promoted to Division Two for 2018 |
| United States |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.883 | |
| Uganda |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.000 | Meet in the 3rd playoff and remain in Division Three |
| Singapore |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | –0.200 | |
| Oman |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | –0.732 | Meet in the 5th playoff and relegated to Division Four for 2018 |
| Malaysia |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –1.546 |
**By Louis Jadwong and additional reporting ESPN, Wikipedia
